Peak Cycle Links Woo Dale to Wye Dale Link Transport Assessment
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Peak Cycle Links Woo Dale to Wye Dale Link Transport Assessment 214843-00 Issue | November 2010 This report takes into account the particular instructions and requirements of our client. Ove Arup & Partners Ltd It is not intended for and should not be relied 63 St Thomas Street upon by any third party and no responsibility is Bristol undertaken to any third party. BS1 6JZ United Kingdom arup.com Job number 214843-00 Peak Cycle Links Woo Dale to Wye Dale Link Transport Assessment Contents Page 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Overview and context 1 1.2 Scope of the Transport Assessment 1 1.3 Format of this document 2 2 Policy Context 3 2.1 National Policy 3 2.2 Local Planning Policy 3 2.3 Local Transport Policy 5 3 Existing Conditions 8 3.1 Site Location and Description 8 3.2 Existing Site Information 8 3.3 Wider Route Network Context 10 3.4 Access by Cycle 10 3.5 Access on Foot 11 3.6 Access by Bus 11 3.7 Access by Car 12 3.8 Road Safety 15 4 Proposed Development 16 4.1 Description of proposed development 16 4.2 Objectives of proposed development 16 4.3 Justification for proposed route alignment 17 5 Construction Traffic 20 5.1 Construction Methodology 20 5.2 Programme 20 5.3 Construction access and trip generation 20 5.4 Public Rights of Way 22 6 Operational Phase Trip Attraction 23 6.1 Cycling and walking 23 6.2 Vehicular Attraction 24 7 Management of impacts 26 7.1 Construction Phase 26 7.2 Operational Phase 26 8 Conclusion 28 214843-00 | Issue | 15 November 2010 J:\214XXX\214843-00\4.50_REPORTS\ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT\CD\IK TRANSPORT ASSESSMENT ISSUE.DOCX Peak Cycle Links Woo Dale to Wye Dale Link Transport Assessment 8.1 Construction Phase 28 8.2 Operational Phase 28 214843-00 | Issue | 15 November 2010 J:\214XXX\214843-00\4.50_REPORTS\ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT\CD\IK TRANSPORT ASSESSMENT ISSUE.DOCX Peak Cycle Links Woo Dale to Wye Dale Link Transport Assessment 1 Introduction 1.1 Overview and context This Transport Assessment relates to the Woo Dale to Wye Dale Link; a section of shared-use cycle and pedestrian trail which is being developed as part of the Peak Trails Links Project. The Peak Trails Links Project is shown in Figure 1. The western part of the Woo Dale to Wye Dale Link lies within the Peak District National Park (PDNP) and comprises upgrading existing farm tracks along Church Lane and Woo Dale. The eastern section of the link is in High Peak District (HPD) and comprises a new section of path along the River Wye linking the bottom of Woo Dale to the Wye Dale car park. Together with a planned on- road section in Buxton and the Monsal Trail (due for completion by March 2011), the Woo Dale to Wye Dale Link will complete the Buxton and Monsal Trail; a continuous cycling and walking route between Buxton and Bakewell. Figure 2 shows the scheme location in the context of adjacent sections of the Peak Trails Links Project and Figure 3 presents the route at 1:10,000 scale showing the Local Authority boundaries. The Buxton and Monsal Trail is part of the Peak Trails Links Project, a proposal to create a circular route linking up existing cycle trails along the former railway routes of the High Peak and Tissington Trails and a route from Bakewell to Matlock, thereby making the heart of the Peak District accessible by cycle and on foot from Buxton and Matlock rail stations. The Pedal Peak District website states that the project has been driven by overall objectives from government to: • to create opportunities for people to start cycling or cycle more often • to help people live more healthy lives by being more active • to reduce car use and cut carbon emissions It is part of a bigger vision for improving cycling in the Peak District National Park. The PDNP is working in partnership with Cycling England to encourage people to use bicycles, particularly families, less mobile people and those new to cycling to cycle regularly. 1.2 Scope of the Transport Assessment The Peak District National Park Authority (PDNPA) requested a Transport Assessment to support the planning application for the Woo Dale to Wye Dale Link. This Transport Assessment is tailored to the specific function and trip generation of the proposed development and broadly follows government guidelines for delivering transport assessments1. Due to the specific nature of the 1 Guidance on Transport Assessment, Department for Transport, March 2007. 214843-00 | Issue | 15 November 2010 J:\214XXX\214843-00\4.50_REPORTS\ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT\CD\IK TRANSPORT ASSESSMENT ISSUE.DOCX Page 1 Peak Cycle Links Woo Dale to Wye Dale Link Transport Assessment development – a new section of walking and cycling route - this Transport Assessment focuses on: • Policy context; • Construction transport • the level of potential cycling and walking demand (as a justification for the need for the Woo Dale to Wye Dale link); • evidence of alternative route alignments that have been considered; • management of potential car parking issues arising from use of car as an access mode. 1.3 Format of this document The remainder of this transport assessment is structured as follows: • Section 2 describes the national and local policy context for transport and promoting walking and cycling; • Section 3 describes the existing site conditions and transport provision; • Section 4 describes the development proposals; • Section 5 describes construction traffic • Section 6 describes the transport that will be generated by the Woo Dale to Wye Dale Link when operational;. • Section 7 addresses management / mitigation of transport impacts; • Section 8 presents the report conclusions. 214843-00 | Issue | 15 November 2010 J:\214XXX\214843-00\4.50_REPORTS\ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT\CD\IK TRANSPORT ASSESSMENT ISSUE.DOCX Page 2 Peak Cycle Links Woo Dale to Wye Dale Link Transport Assessment 2 Policy Context 2.1 National Policy Planning Policy Statements (PPSs), and their predecessors Planning Policy Guidance Notes (PPGs), are prepared by the Government to explain statutory provisions and provide guidance on planning policy and the operation of the planning system. PPS12 sets out the Government’s national planning policies on delivering sustainable development through the planning system. The following key principles in PPS1 should be applied to ensure the delivery of sustainable development: • Sustainable development should be pursued in an integrated manner. • Development plans should contribute to global sustainability by addressing the causes and potential impacts of climate change, including reducing emissions. • Development should improve the character and quality of an area. • Development plans should promote clear, comprehensive and inclusive access policies that benefit the entire community. The main objectives of PPG133 are to integrate planning and transport at the national, regional, strategic and local level to: • promote more sustainable transport choices for both people and moving freight; • promote accessibility to jobs, shopping, leisure facilities and services by public transport, walking and cycling; and • reduce the need to travel, especially by car. 2.2 Local Planning Policy 2.2.1 Overview The Woo Dale to Wye Dale Link is situated within two local planning authorities; the Peak District National Park Authority and High Peak Borough Council (HPBC). The relevant policies in the two authorities’ planning documents are summarised below. 2.2.2 PDNPA Structure Plan The Structure Plan is no longer statutory policy, however it is still material to planning decisions within the National Park. The following policies are relevant: 2 Planning Policy Statement 1: Delivering Sustainability Development (PPS1), Communities and Local Government, January 2005 3 Planning Policy Guidance 13: Transport (PPG13), Communities and Local Government, March 2001 214843-00 | Issue | 15 November 2010 J:\214XXX\214843-00\4.50_REPORTS\ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT\CD\IK TRANSPORT ASSESSMENT ISSUE.DOCX Page 3 Peak Cycle Links Woo Dale to Wye Dale Link Transport Assessment • Transport Policy 1 - Reconciling Transport demand with National Park Objectives – whereby environmental quality will be the primary criterion in the planning of transport system; • Transport Policy 10 –this policy states that provision will be made for new or improved routes for cyclists, horse riders and pedestrians. 2.2.3 PDNPA Local Plan The Local Plan states that public rights of way provide a valuable resource for visitors and local residents. It specifies that opening up the network of paths and bridleways to increased and more diverse use, will add to recreational opportunities, spread visitor pressures and benefit the local economy. The Local Plan states that missing links in the public paths network will be identified as soon as possible. This will include sections where the legal status is in doubt, but particularly where the alternative is to walk or ride alongside a busy road, which would be the case if users were required to use the A6. 2.2.4 PDNPA Local Development Framework This document establishes the values and challenges for the National Park and sets the desired spatial outcomes for the plan period up to 2026. The document is currently with the Secretary of State for comment. The transport chapter sets out seven policies related to transport in the park, two of which are particularly relevant for the Woo Dale to Wye Dale link: • Policy T1: Reducing the general need to travel and encouraging the use of more sustainable modes of transport; and • Policy T6: Routes for walking, cycling and horse riding, and waterways Policy T1 states that where possible a modal shift to more accessible sustainable options will always be sought. It also promotes good connectivity between different modes of transport. By implementing the Woo Dale to Wye Dale link, the connection to Buxton Railway station will be made and access by more sustainable modes of transport can be achieved.